–Choose water and calorie-free "diet" drinks instead of regular soda, fruit punch, sweet tea and other sugar-sweetened drinks. Choose liquid oils for cooking instead of solid fats that can be high in saturated and trans fats.

–Cut back on high-calorie snack foods and desserts like chips, cookies, cakes and ice cream.

–Watch portion sizes. Eating too much of even healthful foods can lead to weight gain.

Beth Reames

(This article appeared in the fall 2008 issue of Louisiana Agriculture.)